Best for Vets: Business Schools 2013 methodology

Mar. 11, 2013 - 06:00AM
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Best for Vets: Business Schools 2013

Some 100 colleges and universities responded to our first-ever survey of business schools. Only institutions that said they offer graduate-level business degrees, and that participated in our rigorous Best for Vets: Colleges survey, the results of which published in November, were considered in this review. To create the rankings, we evaluated responses to the Business Schools and the previous Colleges surveys, looking at the academic support, student services and campus culture at the schools, as well as measures of academic success and selectivity. Information on schools' locations and whether they are public, private or for-profit came from the Education Department. All other information was provided by the schools. Not everything listed here was considered in creating the rankings, and many items not listed in the chart were considered.

Fall 2012 enrollment shows the business school's enrollment for that semester.

% military or on military benefits indicates the percentage of this population among business school students in the fall of 2012.

MBA types detail the kinds of business degrees offered.

At or below TA cap indicates whether a business school's per-credit-hour rate for all programs was at or below the $250-per-credit-hour cap on military tuition assistance in the 2012-13 school year.

Yellow Ribbon participation indicates whether a school is participating in the Veterans Affairs Department's Yellow Ribbon program during the 2012-13 school year, under which a school and VA contribute equal amountsto partially or fully make up the difference between a school's tuition and the Post-9/11 GI Bill cap for a particular school. If the school and VA provided contradictory information but the school confirmed its Yellow Ribbon status, Military Times relied on the school's answer. Because some schools' tuition rates fall at or below the GI Bill cap, the Yellow Ribbon program may not be necessary.

Relaxed residency indicates whether some state residency rules are waived for service members, allowing them to pay in-state tuition. This only applies to public schools.

Accepts ACE credits indicates whether a business school grants at least some academic credit for military training, as recommended by the American Council on Education.

Veterans staff rates the staff members dedicated to veterans issues in the business school and the full university, including how much time they spend on veteran-specific work and other factors. Best rating is four stars.

Academic support rates the academic help for veterans, such as special withdrawal and re-enrollment policies for service members who are deployed, as well as veterans-only classes, tutoring and mentorship programs as provided by the business school and the full university. Best rating is four stars.

Average GMAT scores are the average Graduate Management Admission Test scores for students accepted in the fall 2012 term. Schools without scores given provided no data.